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One Lawmaker Wants To Legalize Marijuana In Atlantic City

by KYW's David Madden

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- There are a plethora of ideas out there being offered to help Atlantic City out of its financial morass.

But one idea being floated around might just surprise you.

Between regional competition, a ton of debt and the potential of North Jersey casinos, Atlantic City can use all the help it can get.

Enter Trenton Assemblyman Reed Gusciora.

"Give Atlantic City the tools where they can distinguish themselves from other gambling areas around the country," he tells KYW Newsradio. "My proposal is that we could legalize marijuana recreationally for Atlantic City."

Mind you, he's already got a plan to do the same across the Garden State, an idea that's going nowhere in the short-term.

Governor Chris Christie is staunchly opposed to the concept and the idea has gotten no traction in the legislature.
But Gusciora looks to other places where it has been legalized, like Colorado and Washington State, and suggests doing the same for Atlantic City will promote tourism and increase local tax revenue.

"This would have a whole new set of tourism from the east coast," he says. "We can get people back from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York and, at the same time, legalize a substance which is probably coming down to be legalized nationwide in the future."

Right now, this idea is merely in the discussion stage although he promises to introduce a bill in the next legislative session, which begins later this month.

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